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There is no honor in making a deal at the World Cup

David Moulton, dmoulton@news-press.com
8:16 a.m. EDT June 26, 2014

United States' head coach Jurgen Klinsmann attends a press conference before a training session in Recife, Brazil, Wednesday, June 25, 2014. The U.S. will play Germany in group G of the 2014 soccer World Cup on June 26. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)(Photo: Julio Cortez ASSOCIATED PRESS)

There is an old BC comic strip that had four scenes to it. In the first scene a husband and wife are on a golf course, and we are led to believe he is explaining the fundamental concept of the sport to her.

The strip starts with her saying, "Let me get this straight, the less I hit the ball the better I am doing."

He smiles in the second scene and replies, "That's right."

She wonders in the third scene, "Then why do it at all?"

The final scene is him alone, at night, on the course talking out loud, "Why... do it... at... all..."

If Johnny Hart, the creator of the BC comic strip, were alive today he could apply that same theory to today's crucial World Cup match between the U.S. and Germany.

So let me get this straight, if the match ends in a tie, then both sides get what they want.

That's right.

Then why play to win at all?

Why... play to win... at... all...

It's not like two teams conspiring to forge a result hasn't happened in the World Cup before. In 1982, West Germany and Austria fixed it so that West Germany would win 1-0, guaranteeing both clubs would advance and Algeria would be eliminated.

Although to be fair, there have been a few instances of sports being fixed in this country too. However, most believe not playing to win is "un-American."

This belief is upheld by former NFL coach, now ESPN analyst Herman Edwards, who famously in a press conference berated a reporter who questioned the team's motivation for winning, by saying over and over, "We play to win the game!"

Yet we often don't.

NFL teams have often "rested" starters late in the regular season. Some teams have done so all but ensuring a certain result, so that they would get a more favorable playoff matchup the following week.

The U.S. has already lost one of its top players, Jozy Altidore, to injury and another, Clint Dempsey, had his nose broken.

Not to be forgotten, a tie benefits Germany too. It not only guarantees them a spot in the next round (although even with a loss they likely would move on) but it puts them through to soccer's Sweet 16 as the top seed in group G, which gives them a better chance to advance.

In fact, the only team that benefits from a win is the United States. Germany gains nothing.

It's not like this little arrangement would be hard to pull off.

The two coaches are best friends. A quick phone call, bada bing, bada boop and it's done.

If we don't make that call, we could lose to Germany. We could play well and lose. In the 2002 World Cup, we largely outplayed the Germans and lost 2-0. That same result coupled with a Ghana win over Portugal and we are going home.

Done. Put a fork in us. Finito. Bye-bye Brazil.

I know we can lose to Germany and still advance but why take the chance? It's soccer. Shenanigans happen regularly. Controversial officiating in which mysterious penalty kicks and red cards (ejections) are awarded all the time. Whose to say something nefarious doesn't happen during the Ghana-Portugal match to sabotage us?

This just in, we're not exactly the most popular soccer country.

FIFA awarded the World Cup to Qatar instead of us for goodness sakes for 2022.

The U.S. has never made it "out of group" before in consecutive World Cups. Doing so would be a big step for U.S. soccer.

However, despite all of that being said, we should not take part in any deal with Germany to play for a tie.

I would rather the U.S. team lose by giving up another late goal in stoppage time than choreograph a result.

Not because it's un-American.

Because it's not honorable.

There is no shame in trying and losing but there is plenty in fixing a match.

David Moulton co-hosts "Miller and Moulton in the Afternoon" weekdays 2-6 p.m. on 99.3 ESPN. His freelance column appears Sunday and Thursday. You can email David at: dmoulton@news-press.com.